WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.040 Take our Bible and go over to Matthew chapter 26. 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:10.960 For those of you that are just visiting with us or just shortly with us, we're going through the Gospel of Matthew and we're reaching the end. 00:00:11.199 --> 00:00:14.480 We started this in January two years ago. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:18.640 We'll be going through the Gospel of Matthew, probably through September. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:24.719 Passage that we're going to be looking at today begins in verse 47. 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:26.960 Verse 47. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:34.560 Let me read this to as we go through it together. 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:39.280 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, suddenly arrived. 00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:45.759 A large mob with swords and clubs was with him, from the chief priest and elders of the people. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:48.320 His betrayer had given them a sign. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:50.479 The one I kiss, he's the one. 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:51.679 Arrest him. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:58.399 So immediately he went up to Jesus and said, Greetings, rabbi, and kissed him. 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:04.000 Friend, Jesus asked him, Why have you come? 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:08.079 Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:13.120 At that moment one of those who with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:16.480 He struck the high priest's servant and cut off his ear. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:23.760 Then Jesus told him, Put your sword back into its place, because all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:32.079 Or do you think that I cannot call on my father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels? 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:36.560 How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way? 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:46.560 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal to capture me? 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:51.840 Every day I used to sit teaching in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:56.400 But all this happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled. 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:01.359 Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:12.400 Think with me for just a moment as to why this is peculiar. 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:13.919 Kings. 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:17.520 Kings are not supposed to surrender. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:23.680 Kings are not supposed to surrender through their enemy without a fight. 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:39.840 Yeah, sure, kings might retreat, they might be outnumbered, they might be outmatched by their foes, but eventually they return to the battlefield, rallying their troops, bringing in their reinforcements. 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:42.800 They might lose the war. 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:55.199 They might lead their army into certain death, but they don't just give themselves up, at least not without exacting some toll on their opponents. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:05.919 And if a king was to lose his kingdom in battle, at least he'd die trying to save it. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:16.560 Better to die fighting as a king than to just turn your nation over and become a slave. 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:35.199 This king, Jesus, rather than retreating from his opponents, goes out to greet them. 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:42.479 This king, rather than rallying his supporters, assumes that they're going to desert him. 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:58.240 This king, rather than have his faithful men fight, and he stands back in the castle waiting, wondering for news to see if his people and his kingdom are safe and secure. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:05.919 No, this king gives himself up to be the good news, to be condemned and crucified. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:14.879 This king, rather than launching a counterattack, this king surrenders. 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:23.519 This king, rather than killing his enemies, is anointed to be the one to die for those enemies. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:36.720 This morning, as we look at this passage of scripture, we're going to discover a king who conquers his enemies and rules the world like no other king in this world has ever done. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:56.560 And we'll learn that our acceptance and our participation in his kingdom means that we must accept him as king, and we must follow the pattern of him as king as we participate in his kingdom. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:04:59.839 And so this morning I want us to look at four points. 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:04.000 And the first is this that this king goes on a scriptural mission. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:07.120 This king goes on a scriptural mission. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:17.279 This king, Jesus, follows a divine script that establishes the eternal kingdom of heaven on this troubled earth. 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:31.040 And when you read this passage and its surrounding context in the rest of the chapter, something significant out of the early pages of Matthew comes in with a flourish into this chapter. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:33.360 Take a look with me at some things here. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:35.920 Go to verse 24 for a second. 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:39.839 Matthew 26, verse 24. 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:46.399 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:51.040 Just mark that phrase as it is written about him. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:53.439 Then drop down to verse 31. 00:05:54.079 --> 00:05:57.759 Then Jesus said to them, Tonight all of you will fall away because of me. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:03.839 For it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:06.720 Then go to verse 53 with me. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:12.720 Do you think that I cannot call on my father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels? 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:18.399 How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that says that it must happen this way? 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:21.040 Well, let's keep reading. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:22.480 Verse 55. 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:27.759 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal to capture me? 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:31.920 Every day I used to sit teaching in the temple and you didn't arrest me. 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:39.600 But all of this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled. 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:48.959 Something from the early pages of Matthew has come back into Matthew's writing. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:56.000 What we have here at the end of Matthew is the way that Matthew started the gospel. 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:04.959 In the opening four chapters of the Gospel of Matthew, he says, seven different times. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:10.720 All of this took place to fulfill what was said through the prophet. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:27.199 Chapter 1 and verse 22, chapter 2 in verse 5, chapter 2 in verse 15, chapter 2 in verse 17, chapter 2 in verse 23, chapter 3 and verse 3, chapter 4 and verse 14, seven times in three and a half chapters. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:32.480 There, Matthew talks about the fulfillment. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:36.879 Here, Jesus talks about the fulfillment. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:43.439 There, all of the passages in reference to the prophets were very specific. 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:48.800 You could go to a verse and see it there in the life of Jesus. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:52.560 Here, Jesus broadens it all. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:54.240 The prophets. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:08:14.160 It's as if Jesus is saying, take what all the prophets have written, converge together all the things that they've been saying, and you're going to find in this me and what's happening to me in this final week of my life and my ministry. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:21.519 What Jesus said in Matthew 5 and verse 17. 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:26.720 He said, Don't think I've come to abolish the law and the prophets. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:29.920 I've not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:33.120 He is now acting out. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:48.960 Later, Paul would look back on the life of Jesus, and he said to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 1, he said, All the promises of God find their yes and their amen in Jesus. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:55.120 And here Jesus is saying exactly the same thing. 00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:01.039 All the promises of God find their yes and amen in him. 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:02.720 All of them? 00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:06.159 Is Jesus the Son of Man of Daniel 7? 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:06.960 Yes. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:11.120 Is Jesus the new covenant that Jeremiah proclaimed? 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:12.000 Yes. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:15.200 Is Jesus the suffering servant of Isaiah? 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:16.159 Yes. 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:20.399 Is Jesus the forsaken and mocked king of Psalm 22? 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:21.360 Yes. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:23.279 Yes, he is. 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:33.600 And so we see this king resolved to go on a scriptural mission, to go to the cross because he knows it's the will of God. 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:37.840 He knows it's the will of God because he knows the scriptures. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:41.440 The Bible speaks of him, the Messiah. 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:43.600 It speaks of his suffering. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.159 It speaks of his resurrection. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:48.639 It speaks of his exaltation. 00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:53.519 It speaks of him as the central focus of God's redemptive plan. 00:09:55.600 --> 00:10:02.320 So when we read the Hebrew Bible, Jesus is telling us that we should be seeing the Messiah there. 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:05.759 We should see him in the story of Scripture. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:18.960 You see, Jesus roots his whole life and ministry and all of that, in all of the prophets, in all the priests, in all the kings, saints, and sinners that we find in Scripture. 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:27.200 Scott McKnight said this: the story of Jesus Christ isn't a story that just pops out of nowhere, like the Book of Mormon. 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:33.759 It's not some timeless set of ideas as if like Plato's philosophical writings. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:41.200 No, the story of Jesus is locked into one people, one history, one scripture. 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:50.720 And the life of Jesus can only make sense as it follows and completes the story of the people of Israel. 00:10:53.279 --> 00:11:03.840 Here's our king, Jesus, on a scriptural mission, saying that his mission is fulfillment of the Old Testament. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:13.440 So how can we share the gospel of this king, the good news that he saves, if we don't know the Hebrew Bible? 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:17.840 Remember what Paul said. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:26.639 I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and which you stand and by which you're being saved. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.399 What is it, Paul? 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:34.320 For I delivered to you, first of all, as of first importance, what I also received. 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:44.879 That Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:50.399 What Paul is emphasizing is what Jesus is saying. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:55.919 Without the Old Testament, there's no understanding of Jesus. 00:11:56.080 --> 00:12:00.639 With no understanding of Jesus, there's no understanding of the good news. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:06.559 Without the understanding of the good news, there is no hope for us or for anyone else. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:09.679 What is this good news that we herald? 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:19.360 Exactly what the people of Israel in the scriptures were pointing toward, to this Messiah who would come. 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:39.919 The gospel is this saving story of Israel, lived out by the true Israel, who was obedient to the Father, and yet who was dead and buried on the behalf of others, so that in his exaltation he might bring his people with him into an everlasting kingdom. 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:46.000 This is a scriptural mission that Jesus is on. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:50.000 But let's look at how it takes shape. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:53.600 The second thing we see is it's a submissive mission. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:13:04.639 Last week, Kevin took us through the passage that detailed Christ's struggles with his impending death and taking on the judgment of sinners on his sinless self. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:06.320 We call it Gethsemane. 00:13:07.200 --> 00:13:22.000 Matthew, along with the other synoptic gospels, describe this period of time where Jesus affirms his complete commitment to God and yet also struggles with the horror of what it means to die the death of crucifixion. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:33.440 In one of those telling verses, Matthew shows us that agonizing obedience as he submits himself to the will of the Father. 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:35.039 Verse 39. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:43.519 Going a little farther, he fell face down and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:46.159 Yet not as I will, but as you will. 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:32.960 He knew that was coming. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:40.559 Yet it pleased the Lord to crush him severely and to make him a guilt offering. 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:43.679 Jesus knew that was coming. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:59.120 And in the Garden of Gethsemane, we listen to Jesus' genuine anguish, and yet we also feel the strength of his obedience as he conforms his life in submission to the will of the Father. 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:05.759 Now, John's gospel doesn't record Gethsemane like Matthew and Mark and Luke do. 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:11.440 But he does show us Jesus' submission to God's plan in John 12. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:15.200 He said, The hour is come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:20.720 And truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:23.840 But if it dies it produces much fruit. 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:29.600 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:32.320 If anyone serves me, he must follow me. 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:35.519 Where I am there my servant will also be. 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:38.559 If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:43.679 And then he says this, now my soul is troubled. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:47.200 What should I say? 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:51.919 Father, save me from this hour. 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:54.960 No. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:01.759 That is why I came to this hour. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:05.120 To fall to the ground and die. 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:16.399 It's this purpose, this submission to the plan of God that we see here in this passage of Scripture. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:26.720 And so when we read what we're the passage that we're in, when Jesus speaks to Peter, he says, Peter, put away your sword. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:29.039 Put your sword away, Peter. 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:34.080 Do you think I can't call on my father and here and now? 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:41.919 Have him send me legions, twelve legions of angels. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:59.039 Jesus here talks about the confidence of his person, but he also talks about his willingness not to be using the prerogatives of that position. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.360 This is why we read Philippians 2 this morning. 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:09.359 You see, a legion was, well, close to six thousand men. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:17.359 Jesus was saying he could have called easily 70 plus thousand angels. 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:22.079 In the Old Testament, one of them killed over a hundred thousand men. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:29.440 I think that small band that was behind Judas probably wasn't going to be much of a fight for them. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:39.279 And for a moment, Peter and his fellow companions are ready to take up arms. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:42.000 Luke records it. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:51.599 Luke 22, when those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, Lord, should we strike with the sword? 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:56.079 And Peter, of course, didn't wait for an answer. 00:17:56.400 --> 00:18:02.559 He's just slices off part of an ear. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:09.119 Impetuous Peter, ready to jump in before an answer is even given, Peter. 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:13.759 But Jesus responds, No more of this. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:16.799 Why? 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:20.640 Why does he tell Peter put his sword back? 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:27.039 How then would the scriptures be fulfilled that says it can happen? 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:29.200 It has to happen this way. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:33.200 As he submits himself. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:39.119 This is a scriptural mission that Jesus submits himself to. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:49.839 And he tells Peter, all those who live by the sword, well, they die by the sword. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:52.079 What is Jesus saying here? 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:54.799 The way of the world is to assert its will. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:19:04.640 The way of the world is to assert its will on others by way of force and power and violence necessarily. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:11.599 And the way of the world is to retaliate violence with violence. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:24.799 And the consequences of that is you end up losing with the same weapons that were waged against you and by you. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.799 What is Jesus saying here? 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:34.319 He's saying his kingdom is a submissive kingdom. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:45.839 He's saying that he and his people do not fight with the weapons of the world and their warfare. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:52.960 They do not fight with a spirit of vengeance or revenge. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:20:04.160 Spurgeon put it this way: He said, A godly man's hand is never more out of place when it's on the sword hilt. 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:11.759 He said, Yet there's always a tendency, even among Christians, to draw the sword from its scabbard. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:24.160 And here Jesus is rejecting the notion that God's will is going to be advanced or imposed upon others by way of violent means. 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:39.119 Our allegiance is to this king, this king who goes on a scriptural mission, this king who submissively gives himself to that mission. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:50.400 And he's calling us to a submissive mission by following him, by following the goals of the kingdom of God. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:56.960 And this is why the Apostle Paul said, we don't wage war with the weaponry of this world. 00:20:57.359 --> 00:21:03.839 But our weapons of righteousness are mighty, powerful from God for the pulling down of strongholds. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:07.599 What are those weapons of righteousness? 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:16.079 Love and joy and peace and patience and gentleness and meekness and kindness and self-control. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:19.279 Those are the weapons of warfare. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:48.240 My missions professor was a missionary in Pakistan, and he was watching a religious ceremony in which men would cut themselves with blades, knives and razors, whips, and they would go into this pool of dank green water and come out of it without blood on them. 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:55.200 And they walked over to him and said, Can your God do this? 00:21:56.880 --> 00:22:03.440 And he said, My God can do something far greater. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:09.839 My God can change a hard man's heart into a soft one. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:15.759 My God can take a hateful man and make him loving. 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:21.759 My God can make a disturbed soul peaceful. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:25.920 Can you get that out of the water? 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:35.119 Jesus has come to carry out God's plan of redemption in Scripture. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:38.640 And he's come to do it in a submissive way. 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:42.000 Unless we think it's only for him. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:45.119 Listen to what Peter, remember? 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:48.799 Peter, the funk, Peter. 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:55.039 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:23:03.279 Whether to the emperor's supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish the to do what is evil and praise those who do what is good. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:04.400 Why? 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:12.559 For it is God's will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by cutting off their ear. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:15.599 No, by doing good. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:20.720 Submit as free people. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:24.799 Not using your freedom as a cover up for evil as God's slaves. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:26.720 Honor everyone. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:35.359 I honor everyone. 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:40.799 Love the brothers and sisters, fear God, honor the emperor. 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:51.039 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. 00:23:52.079 --> 00:23:55.440 He did not commit sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth. 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:59.359 And when he was insulted, he did not insult in return. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:04.720 When he suffered, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.759 Submission. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:14.720 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that having died to sins, we might live to righteousness. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:17.039 By his wounds you have been healed. 00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:27.599 You were like sheep going astray, but now you've returned to the shepherd and the overseer of your souls, who said, Arrest me. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:34.400 What do we see in this passage? 00:24:34.640 --> 00:24:44.720 We see King Jesus on a mission, a scriptural mission, a submissive mission, a sincere mission. 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:46.400 And that's our third point. 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:52.640 While Jesus is in the garden here, we witness the return of Judas. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:55.359 Verse 47, take a look at that with me. 00:24:55.599 --> 00:24:59.759 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, suddenly arrived. 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:11.039 He's come to execute the plan that he's made with the religious leaders of the day in order to gain temporary possession of the blood money that he had negotiated. 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:15.039 He secures a band of soldiers from the chief priests and the Pharisees. 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:24.319 He leads them to where Jesus is alone, away from all the crowds, and he kisses Jesus in order to identify him for the soldiers. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.160 This Judas. 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:29.119 Who is this Judas? 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:32.559 Well, he was the treasurer of the apostolic band. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:37.920 We have to assume that he had some positive characteristics about his life, right? 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:41.119 It's not a job you give to just anybody. 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:53.440 Because when Jesus said in the upper room, one of you is going to betray me, they all didn't go, well, hey, we know who that is. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:57.039 They asked about themselves. 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:04.640 So Judas's reputation must have seemed dedicated. 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:12.240 It might have even seemed sincere, but the reality was it was all a sham. 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:14.480 Every bit of it. 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:24.400 According to John, Judas' objection to Mary's anointing of Jesus with costly ointment was not because he was concerned about the poor, but because of his greed. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.079 Why? 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:33.200 Because we find in John 12 and verse 6 that he was dipping his hand into the money bag. 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:39.920 He was taking for his own personal profit the treasury funds. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:48.400 And Jesus indicates in other places that Judas never really did believe in him, but only appeared to be as if he did. 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:59.119 And so to the sin of greed and covetousness, there's also the sin of deceit and hypocrisy. 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:05.119 Jesus had offered him a relationship. 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:12.160 Jesus had given him an intimate life next to him. 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:18.480 Jesus had pronounced a role for him. 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:36.559 But Jesus was abused by Judas because Judas manipulated that relationship and manipulated that position for his own purposes. 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:42.960 And now in the ultimate display of hypocrisy, verse 47. 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:52.400 He arrives and what does he do? 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:56.160 Greetings, Rabbi. 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.480 Verse 49. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.880 And kisses him. 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:07.519 Luke records Jesus asking him a question. 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:13.119 Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss? 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:24.079 There's not one record of any of the other apostles kissing Jesus. 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:37.119 Here's the one place where that sign of acceptance and love and friendship is offered in hypocrisy. 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:43.680 The CSB says, Why have you come? 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:46.400 NIV puts it a little different. 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:48.160 Do what you've come for. 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:52.400 There's a question about which way this phrase should be translated. 00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:57.599 Both ways have equal import, I think. 00:28:58.240 --> 00:29:00.799 It's hard to know exactly which way to go with it. 00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:08.559 Why have you come echoes those words in the Garden of Eden, here in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:10.799 Adam, Adam, where are you? 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:13.440 Judas, where are you? 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:15.200 Why have you come here? 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:30.000 But also this do what you came for means Jesus' submission to God's directions through the Passion Week. 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:52.000 And Judas is a part of that, violating this most sacred, privileged relationship with the Messiah, scorning Christ, taking advantage of his love and his friendship, manipulating his friends, manipulating even his enemies to advance his own goals. 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:57.359 Judas was never really Christ's. 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:02.799 He fell away from his apostleship and never, never returned. 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:05.920 He's called the son of perdition. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.799 He's lost. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:15.680 The highest accolade he could give to Christ was rabbi, never Lord. 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:32.240 He lives here on the stage of Scripture as a warning to us of uncommitted followers of Jesus who share company with Christ and his people, but don't share in the spirit of Christ or of his kingdom. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:41.920 Judas leaves the gospel story a little bit later, a doomed and damned man because of the hardness of his heart. 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:46.720 But there's something else here. 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:48.720 There's Jesus. 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:58.079 He submitted himself to that kiss. 00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.359 Why? 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:04.960 Because I think when he called Judas friend, he meant it. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:12.160 He could have recoiled and stepped back, but he didn't. 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:17.359 And when he is arrested, he submits himself to that. 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:34.480 He has something to say about it, but he submits himself and he says to these men who do this, have you come out to me with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal to capture me? 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:40.319 Every day I used to sit teaching in the temple and you didn't arrest me. 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:44.319 Why have you come this way? 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:46.960 Why have you come in the middle of the night? 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:49.920 Why have you come to this solitary spot? 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:53.359 Why have you come with clubs and swords? 00:31:53.599 --> 00:32:00.960 Why have you come this way when you could have easily arrested me in the temple? 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:01.759 Why? 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:04.240 Because they were not sincere men. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:07.519 And why does Jesus make this point? 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:10.160 Because he was sincere. 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:13.440 He was who he was in the temple. 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:16.960 He is who he is in the garden. 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:19.279 He is sincere all the way through. 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:20.960 He hasn't changed a bit. 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:27.599 He wasn't being something in his public teaching and doing something different in a closet. 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:32.079 There was complete transparency about him. 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:34.240 What he was in public is what he was in private. 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:38.960 He wasn't putting on a public face, all the while plotting something different. 00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:43.599 There were no plans of subversion underneath everything he was saying. 00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:52.079 The religious leaders couldn't counter his teaching, so they drum up an idea that he's actually about being subversive. 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:55.440 He's head to this temple, destroy it in three days. 00:32:58.160 --> 00:33:02.400 Jesus says, Do you really think I'm leading a rebellion? 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:06.880 Of course they didn't. 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:09.119 They just wanted him gone. 00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:16.799 And in verse 50, it says they take a hold of him. 00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:23.599 The idiom there is translated in other versions. 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:27.920 They laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:29.200 Right? 00:33:31.440 --> 00:33:37.279 Throughout the Gospels, Jesus lays hands on people to heal them. 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:46.480 But here he allows these men to lay their hands on him to kill them. 00:33:48.640 --> 00:34:03.119 Why would the one who laid hands on people to heal them allow sinful hands to lay hands, their those hands on him so he could heal them in a different way? 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:12.159 He goes into the hands of sinners so that he could open up wide his hands to save. 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:15.519 This is Jesus. 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:23.280 He's on a scriptural mission, he's on a submissive mission, he's on a sincere mission. 00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:31.440 And tragically, for every single one of us, it is a solitary mission. 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:34.639 Take a look at verse 56. 00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:40.000 All this happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled. 00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:44.559 Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away. 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:54.800 These trembling disciples had looked to Jesus for strength and leadership, but now he's arrested and they've got nowhere to go. 00:34:55.599 --> 00:35:02.400 Jesus just a little bit earlier in the evening had promised a comforter who would come and be with them. 00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:06.559 Where's their clinging to the hope of that anywhere? 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:09.599 All of them flee. 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:16.079 And Peter, you know, whack, Peter runs. 00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:19.519 And he hides. 00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:25.760 He cowers at the questions of a little girl. 00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:37.519 Even after the resurrection, these men are in an upper room hiding for fear of their lives. 00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:44.320 These are the men that have been called by Christ to be his ambassadors in the kingdom. 00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:48.719 But they don't understand Jesus and they don't understand the kingdom. 00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:49.840 Not yet. 00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:51.199 Not yet. 00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:59.280 They don't understand that he's come to give himself up to death to save a lost and dying world. 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:04.800 But as Jesus is led away to that death, all of their hope dies. 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:09.199 They haven't understood it yet. 00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:14.159 Jesus has refused to retaliate with force. 00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:18.960 He's refused the sword, and he's made his disciples vulnerable. 00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:21.599 After he's arrested, they run away. 00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:28.880 What Jesus had been proclaiming to them should have caused them to have some sense of confidence and hope. 00:36:30.079 --> 00:36:33.760 Perhaps even to stand firm in the face of this arrest. 00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:36.320 But they don't. 00:36:37.679 --> 00:36:49.280 And once again, in Jesus' greatest time of personal need, when he needs support the most, his closest followers desert him. 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:52.960 And he faces the cross alone. 00:36:56.480 --> 00:37:03.440 Like the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement, Jesus goes off to his destiny alone. 00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:13.440 That solitude of Gethsemane gets all the more quiet. 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:15.679 Alone. 00:37:19.199 --> 00:37:24.239 When we read the Gospel of Matthew, we run into all kinds of different characters. 00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:35.840 Judas, Peter, later we'll read about Pilate, Caiaphas, crowds demanding the blood of Christ, the rest of the disciples. 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:45.840 All of them, Matthew ushers onto the stage before us in order to show us a contrast and comparison to Jesus. 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:51.199 All of them fail the responsibilities that are put before them in their life. 00:37:52.320 --> 00:38:00.719 All of their motives for service are just human-derived motivations to achieve success, and every one of them fail. 00:38:02.239 --> 00:38:14.559 But there's one solitary life who maintains that scriptural, divine mission, Jesus. 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:24.159 And though his ultimate end seems to be one of failure here, it's not. 00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:25.840 It's success. 00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:32.960 You see, Jesus is not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. 00:38:34.159 --> 00:38:39.280 His purpose to coming to this earth was to be that lone savior. 00:38:41.840 --> 00:38:48.239 Isaiah 53, he was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. 00:38:48.559 --> 00:38:51.519 He was like some someone people turned away from. 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:54.079 He was despised, and we didn't value him. 00:38:55.760 --> 00:38:57.599 John writes that in John 1. 00:38:57.760 --> 00:39:01.280 He came to his own, and his own did not receive him. 00:39:03.679 --> 00:39:08.159 Zechariah 13, smite the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter. 00:39:08.719 --> 00:39:09.599 They did. 00:39:11.280 --> 00:39:11.920 Why? 00:39:12.159 --> 00:39:14.000 Why this one man? 00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:17.199 Isaiah 40 59. 00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:21.679 Justice is turned back, and righteousness is standing afar off. 00:39:21.840 --> 00:39:25.519 Truth is stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. 00:39:25.760 --> 00:39:29.119 Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil is plundered. 00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:35.599 The Lord saw that there was no justice, and he was offended. 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:38.239 He saw that there was no man. 00:39:40.400 --> 00:39:44.480 He was amazed there was no one interceding. 00:39:45.199 --> 00:39:47.280 Why is Jesus alone here? 00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:50.719 Because Isaiah 59 says this. 00:39:53.519 --> 00:40:00.239 So his own arm brought salvation, and his own righteousness supported him. 00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:10.960 He put on righteousness as body armor and a helmet of salvation on his head, and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. 00:40:11.280 --> 00:40:21.119 This is Jesus alone, the one obedient man, the one obedient Israel alone. 00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:25.679 No one next to him to receive the credit. 00:40:25.920 --> 00:40:30.320 No one saying, I did part of it to get any of the credit. 00:40:38.880 --> 00:40:40.400 Isaiah 63. 00:40:41.280 --> 00:40:43.840 I looked and there was no one to help. 00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:47.039 And I was amazed that no one assisted. 00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:51.039 So my arm accomplished victory for me. 00:40:52.480 --> 00:40:56.639 Isaiah 41, when I looked, there was no one, there was no counselor among them. 00:40:56.719 --> 00:40:59.199 When I asked them, they had nothing to say. 00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:08.880 God speaks from his heavenly throne to the universe and says, Can any of you save yourselves? 00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:11.599 No. 00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:14.559 No, we can't. 00:41:15.199 --> 00:41:18.000 More likely, no, we won't. 00:41:20.880 --> 00:41:22.559 Ezekiel 22. 00:41:23.199 --> 00:41:28.480 Her priests do violence to my instruction and profane my holy things. 00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:33.679 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, destroying lives. 00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:40.800 Her prophets plaster for them with whitewash by seeing false visions and lying divinations. 00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:47.519 The people have practiced extortion and committed robbery, they've oppressed the poor and needy. 00:41:49.360 --> 00:42:09.760 I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one except for Jesus, so that we would not be destroyed. 00:42:14.239 --> 00:42:19.199